VETERAN Neil Fairbrother hit his fourth championship century of the season in Colchester.

Fairbrother, who turns 38 next month, insists he may call time on his long career when his contract expires this winter. But he is currently playing as well as ever, as he underlined with a superb 132 to steer Lancashire to 316 for six on the first day of their vital championship match against Essex.

It was the 46th first class century of Fairbrother's career, taking him to joint sixth in the all-time Lancashire list with Jack Iddon.

Lancs were in danger of squandering the advantage of winning the toss on a glorious day, when John Crawley went for a duck and Andy Flintoff for 18 in Ronnie Irani's first over. But Fairbrother linked up with Mark Chilton in a determined third wicket stand of 215, which lasted until after tea.

Fairbrother had just reached three figures, from 189 balls with 12 fours and two sixes, when Chilton missed out agonisingly on his second century of the season flicking Peter Such to mid wicket on 98.

Irani was the pick of the Essex attack, bowling Joe Scuderi and having Fairbrother caught behind down the leg side for figures of three for 49.